Example letter to sympathize for the death of a colleague

GUIDELINES

In writing a letter of offering sympathy for the death of a business colleague, courteously recognize the receiver's hardship while giving him or her comfort and encouragement. Be tactful, truthful and genuine while you write the letter, if possible, write it by hand and on a personal stationery. Do not write business specifics like benefits or distributions on the letter. You can write about these things some other time.

Make him or her feel your sympathy.

Reminisce the deceased's success and his or her character, or one of your beautiful memories about your relationship with the deceased.

Give additional sympathy and encouragement.

SAMPLE LETTER

[Senders Name] [Address line][State, ZIP Code]

[Letter Date]

[Recipients Name] [Address line][State, ZIP Code]

[Subject: Normally bold, summarizes the intention of the letter] -Optional-

Dear [Recipients Name],

Everyone here at Junk Clothing would like to offer our deepest sympathies upon the death of Craig, your firm's co-founder. We have had a long working relationship with Craig and yourself, and it has been a good five years. Craig did much to aid our own business, and everyone will sorely miss him.

Example letter to sympathize for the death of a colleague.

Further things to consider when writing sympathy letters to acquaintances

Sympathy Letters

Sympathy letters are letters you write to express sorrow and concern for someone else's misfortune. Maybe this person has experienced a huge personal loss or was recently divorced. Perhaps you know of an expectant mother who has just experienced a painful miscarriage. These are the times you just need to find the right words to say the right things. Drafting a sympathy letter will bring great solace to the recipient, who may keep the letter for years and read it over and over again. The purpose of this letter is to let the recipient know that you know what he/she is going through and that he/she can count on you during this difficult time.

The best sympathy letters are those that are genuine and come from the heart. Be brief and mention how you learned about the news. Be empathetic and sensitive with your words. Be careful not to give advice when none is needed. Do not try to compare your loss with theirs. Encourage the recipient simply and honestly. Offer your help and support but do not make promises that you cannot keep. End the letter with an expression of affection, sympathy, or comfort

Letters to Acquaintances

Letters to acquaintances are letters you write to people that you know slightly, but who are not close friends. An acquaintance could be a colleague at work but whom you do not interact with on a regular basis, a person you went to school with but know little about him/her, or your Facebook contacts whom you interact with on a minor level. You could write a letter to this person to ask for a favor, invite him/her to a social event, or just pass some information. Although most people would opt for a social media message or text, a well-drafted letter will make the recipient see the seriousness of the matter and feel obliged to return the favor.

The best letters to acquaintances are warm, sweet, and friendly. Begin the letter with a proper salutation, based on your relationship with the recipient. State the purpose of the letter and be clear about what you want from the recipient. If you are asking him/her to do something for you, for instance, mention why you think he/she is the best person to get it done. Make the letter short and only provide the necessary details. Conclude on a positive note.